Is oral health status of children with beta-Thalassemia worse than that of their normal counterparts?

To determine the association, if any, of patients suffering from beta-Thalassema with dental caries, gingival condition and oral health status and compare it to their normal counterparts. A. total of 90 children suffering from beta-Thalassemia and 60 healthy controls [age range 6-15 years] were selected from similar socio-economic and parental education background. Oral hygiene status and gingival condition were examined using Oral hygiene Index-Simplified and Modified Gingival Index respectively. Dental caries was recorded using DMFT /dmft Index according to the criteria described by the World health Organisation. Dental caries status in both primary and permanent dentition was found similar in both the groups of children [p>0.5]. GI score of thalassemic children was 0.73 +/- 1.08 and of the healthy subjects was 0.85 +/- 0.95 [p>0.5], however oral health status of the two groups was found to be different [p<0.005] with a larger number of healthy group having [good] oral hygiene as compared to their thalassemic counterparts. There was no significant difference in the dental caries status and gingival condition of children with beta-Thalassemia as compared to their normal counterparts; however, oral hygiene status of the healthy children was significantly better than children suffering from beta-Thalassemia

Experience of early childhood caries [ECC] in children at Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital, Karachi and its relationship with feeding practices

The aim of the study was to find the experience of early childhood caries [ECC] in children at Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital, Karachi in the period of six months and its relationship with feeding practices. A total of 521 children 2- 6 years of age were screened for the present study who came to Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital Karachi in the period of Sept-Dec 2008 and June- July 2009. Examination and detection of the caries was solely based on visualization. A parent or a caregiver was asked to complete a questionnaire regarding information about the child, their oral hygiene, social class and feeding practices. The modification of Kuppuswami scale was used to classify the socioeconomic status. The rate and pattern of caries were analyzed and each child was classified as mild, moderate or severe ECC. There is a strong and significant relationship between the presence of early childhood caries and the degree of feeding abuse. Children from low socioeconomic status have increased early childhood caries. The experience of early childhood caries was 50.1% in the children attending dental opd of Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital in the period of six months. Early childhood caries were more in children who were always taking a feeding bottle especially to bed at night and those who consume cariogenic snacks and were increasingly seen in lower socioeconomic groups

Mechanical versus chemical retention in complex restoration

The aims of this study were: [a] to investigate, by questionnaires, the selection and use of materials and techniques to restore complex restorations in vital teeth. [b] Can adhesive resin liners provide retention that is the same as dentinal pins and slots when restoring complex restorations in vital teeth? A self administered questionnaire was developed. Four hundred questionnaires were distributed to senior and junior general dental practitioners employed in hospitals and private sectors of Karachi city. A total of 359 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 89.75%. Amalgam was the most popular material used by general dental practitioners to restore complex restorations in vital teeth followed by glass ionomer plus composite. In vital teeth retentive slots were used the most and retentive pins were the least popular. ways of mechanical retention. The results also showed respondents were using adhesive resin liners exclusively when restoring complex restorations. This study showed that adhesive resin liners may he used as an alternative or adjunct to mechanical retention. Because of the improvements of bonding strength of adhesive resin liners, dentinal pins and slots should not be the only methods considered to restore complex restorations

comparison of thermomechanical compaction and cold lateral condensation obturation techniques on the basis of density measurements, using digital radiographs

To compare the cold lateral condensation and the thermomechnical condensation obturation techniques by measuring the radiographic density of the obturation. Digital radiographs were used as an aid for the comparison. A total of 100 single rooted teeth mainly central incisors were divided into two groups. Group A comprised of teeth that were obturated using cold lateral condensation and Group B comprised of teeth that were obturated using thermomechanical technique. The canals of all the teeth were prepared with rotary endodontics [Protaper System] with a working distance of 21mm. During the sample preparations irrigation with EDTA was used to remove the smear layer. One group of teeth was obturated with ISO standardized gutta percha points using cold lateral condensation and the other group was obturated using thermomechanical technique [Gutta Condensors-Dentsply]. Digital radiographs were taken processed in Digora System for both the techniques. The apical area was zoomed to 4x and density measurement readings for both the techniques were recorded and compared using Digora Optime. The mean for Group A was found to be 140 while for Group B the value was 136. The difference was statistically significant [p < 0.005]. The study concluded that both the techniques are acceptable clinically. However the cold lateral condensation technique was found to be superior to thermomechanical compaction in terms of radiographic density